James f



(No Model.)

J. P. ROWLEY. FRAGTURE APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 7, 1893.

Un'rrnn Srn'rns PATENT rricn,

JABLIES h. ROl-VLEY, OF DES MOINES, IOl VA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A.M. LINN, OF SAME PLACE.

FRACTURE APPARATUS.

SIPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,271, datedFebruary *7, 1898.

Application filed March 26, 1892. Serial No. 426.619. (No model.)

.To (115 whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatl, JAMES F. Rownnv, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and Stateof lowa, have invented a new and useful FractureBrace, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means for reducing a fractureof the tibia or fibula or both without the use of splints andisespecially adapted for use in cases of oblique fractures of said bones,since in said oblique fractures the contraction of the musclessurrounding and overlying said bones causes the fractured ends tooverlap and slip past each other, in aggravated cases rendering theproper setting of the bones impossible and resulting in a shortening ofthe injured limb.

A further object of my invention is to be found in the provision ofmeans for reducing a dislocation of the ankle joint.

The objects of my invention are attained by the use of devices forextending the limb between the knee and the foot, which devices comprisea frame inclosing the foot and reaching to the knee, means forfasteningsaid frame to the limb near the knee, a collar encircling thefoot, a screw device secured to the frame below the foot and connectionsbetween said screw device and the collar, whereby upon the withdrawalrotation of said screw that portion of the limb below the knee will beextended.

My invention consists further in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter set forth and pointed out in myclaims, reference being now had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front view showing my device applied as required forpractical use. Fig. 2 is a top view of the knee band. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the ankle band.

In the construction of the device as shown the numeral 10 designates athree sided frame, comprising side bars 11 and a cross piece or end 12.The upper end portions of the side bars 11 are hinged by means of pivots13 to curved metal plates l4, 14, which latter are riveted to, and onthe outside of the knee band 15. I

The knee band 15 is formed of leather in two parts or pieces, adapted tofit opposite sides of the limb below the knee, each of said pieceshaving a flap 16, 16, secured thereto. Eyelets 17 are provided in themating edges of the pieces forming the band 15, and the said pieces aresecured and drawn together by means of laces 18. The pivots 13 arelocated above the transverse center of the knee band and yielding,elastic or compressible pads 19 may be interposed between the bars 11and the plates 14: below said pivots if desired.

The ankle band 20 is formed of leather shaped so as to lit the instepand upper por-.,

tion of the heel and is provided with eyelets 21 and a lace 22 by meansof which it is secured. Rings 23 are fixed to the lower edge and onopposite sides of the band 20, which rings are detachably connected witha swivel plate 24:. The plate 2i is swiveled on the upper end of anadjusting screw 25 which latter passes through a screw seat 26 formed inthecross piece or end 12 of the frame 10.

In the practical use of my invention the knee band 15 is secured andfirmly laced upon the limb slightly below the knee and is prevented fromslipping upward by the natural enlargement of the limb above the pointof application. The ankle band is then adj usted upon the foot andconnected to the swivel plate. The adjusting screw is then rotated inthe manner required to withdraw the same from its seat,'thus exerting adownward strain upon the ankle which extends the limb and forces thefractured bones into their natural positions. A slight bandage wrappedabout the injured limb for a time will prevent a transverse movement ofthe fractured bones relative to each other until the process of knittinghas commenced, after which said bandage may be removed. Antisepticcotton may be interposed between the limb and the bands to preventinflammation by said hands if necessary. Owing to the band 15 beinglaced both in front and behind said band is adapted for both left andright limbs, thus obviating the necessity of having more than one styleof brace for this kind of work. It is obvious that the knee band 15 mustbe securely fastened upon the limb at a point below the knee, since weresaid band located above the knee the strain incident to the expansionbetween the knee and ankle bands would dislocate the knee joint, andsince said strain must be continued for a considerable length of time,permanent injury to said knee joint would result. It is obvious furtherthat when the brace is applied to the limb the patient must occupy arecumbent position with the limb extended, and since the anterior curveof the tibia is in its formation entirely unlike the posterior curve ofthe head of the fibula, it is apparent that the portion of the braceadapted to fit the tibia cannot in any manner be caused to conform tothe shape of the fibula, and therefore necessarily the shape of thebrace is such as to preclude the possibility of its use interchangeablyon the right and left limbs in the same position relative to thevertical, said brace when changed from one limb to the other mustbeinverted, and were it not for the provision of front and back lacings,it would be necessary to turn the patient over or elevate the injuredlimb to permit of lacing the band at the rear thereof. Thus it will beseen that the provision of front and back lacings is a materialadvantage both in the added convenience to the operator and the comfortof the patient.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is:

1. A fracture brace, comprising a rigid frame adapted to inclose thefoot and extend upward on either side of the limb to a point below andin proximity to the knee, a band secured to one end of said frame andadapted to encircle the limb at a point adjacent to and below the knee,a band adapted to be mounted upon the foot adjacent to the ankle, andmeans for increasing the distance between said bands.

2. A fracture brace comprising a U-shaped frame, a band secured to saidframe and adapted to be laced upon the limb ata point adjacent to andbelow the knee, and an adjusting screw, carrying a swivel plate, seatedin the end of said frame opposite to said band and adapted to produceextension between the knee and foot.

In a fracture brace the combination with a U-shaped frame extending,from a pointin proximity to and below the knee, around the foot and onboth sides of the limb, of aband hinged to said frame and adapted toencircle the limb below and adjacent to the knee, and screw devicesmounted on said frame acting in conjunction with the ankle band toextend the limb between the knee band and the said ankle band.

at. In afracture brace, the combination with a frame and extensiondevices, of a band adapted to encircle the limb in contiguity to andbelow the knee, which band is laced on two opposite sides, thus adaptingthe brace for both the right and left limbs.

In testimony whereof I hereunto have set. my hand this 3d day of March,1892.

JAMES F. ROXVLEY.

In presence of- G. H. ll'U'rTENLooHER, S. 0. SWEET.

